Air valve and fuel cut-off



Dec. 11, 1928.

W. H. PRITCHETT AIR VALVE AND FUEL CUT-OFR Filed May 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 11, 1928.

W. H. PRITCHETT AIR VALVE AND FUEL CUT-OFF Filed May 4,

1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1 928.

' UNITED STATES WILLIAM HENRY PRITCHETT, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

AIR VALVE AND FUEL CUT-OFF.

Application filed May 4,

The present invention relates to improvements in gasoline regulators and has for an object certain improvements over the invention shown and described in my prior Patent 6 No. 1,627 .458, granted May 3, 1927.

The primary object of the invention is to effect an economy in the amount of fuel consumed per mile of travel of the automobile.

An incidental object is to accomplish the which will further act to properly atomize the fuel mixture prepared by the carburetor.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a carburetor intake manifold and automobile instrument board with the improved device shown in connection therewith; 1

Figure 2 is a plan view of the operating device on the instrument board;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device, showing the mesh gasket;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the device with the rotor in side elevation v Figure 5 is ahorizontal' section; and,

Figure 6 is a view partly in section taken at right angles to Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 7 indicates a carburetor having theattaching flange 8. 9 represents theintake manifold pipe having the-attaching flange 10, and ll'indicates the instrument board of an automobile or other vehicle. I

The instrument board 11 is adapted to receive a control device for operating the gaso line regulator and the latter is incorporated between the carburetor 7' and intake pipe 9, all shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.

1927.; Serial No. 188,803.

For purposes of effecting the attachment, the regulator is made as a. unit'with a lower attaching flange 12 united as by the bolts or other appropriate fastenings 13 to the carburetor flange 8. Between the flanges 8 and I 12, as shown in Figure 3, is preferably mounted a mesh gasket 14, or a gasket having a mesh center to cover the fuel opening or passage. This mesh or foraminous gasket will act to atomize and break up the fuel mixture, including the gasoline vapor and admixed air and a more homogeneous fuel mixture will result; It is an important consideration that this atomizing gasket or other atomizing medium is placed to act justprior to the delivery of the fuel mixture to the improved regulator, whereby the additional air which is operated by means-of the improved regulator will be assimilatedpromptly following the atomizing action to which the fuel is subjected by the screen gasket.

In like manner the upper portion of the fuel regulator is preferably provided with an upper attaching flange 15 united with the flange 10 of the manifold 9, as by the bolts or other fastenings 16.

The regulator is contained in a casing 17 of appropriate size and form, of metal or other appropriate material having the upper and 35 lower flanges 12 and 15'as before referred to and as shown in Figure 4, having an upper hollow neck 18 and a lower hollow neck 19 of preferably the same diameter as the fuel inlet pipe with which these necks are connected. Between the necks is an enlarged chamber for-receiving the valveor rotor 20 which is introduced through one end of the preferably cylindrical casing 17 the other end being permanently closed. Cover plate 21, is a.dapt- 5 ed to effect closure of the open end of the casing afterthe rotary valve 20 has been introduced, this c'over plate 21 being held removably in place as by the use of the screws, bolts or other fastenings 22 which take into 1 threaded sockets 23 or other parts of the caslng.

In the upper portion of the cylindrical part or wall of the casing are provided spaced oil holes 24 and 25 for the purpose of introducing from time to time lubricant to the spaced cylindrical portions of the rotary valve which form the annular bearing surfaces upon which the valve is adapted to truly rotate. the rotating movement being restricted by a 11 threaded or other stop pin 26, which projects through the permanently closed head of the casing 17 and into a quadrant groove'27 in one peripheral edge of the rotary member.

The removable cover plate or head 21 is perforated centrally to admit therethrough the trunnion which projects from the adjacent side face of the rotary valve 20, this trunnion being provided with the round inner section 28 which turns within the wall ofthe opening in the cover plate and a square outer section 29 adapted to fit the socket of a universal joint by which movement is communicated to the rotary valve from the control device on the vehicle instrument board ll.

The internal construction of the valve is shown more particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and consists of the spaced annular bearing portions 30 and 31, which extend to opposite sides of the hollow necks 18 and 19. In the intermediate portion between these bearing parts 30 and 31 is formed a through diametric passage 32 adapted as shown in Figure 6 to register co-incidentally with both upper and lower hollow necks 18 and 19, whereby to afford a through passage of the same cross sectionalarea as said hollow necks and the intake pipe.

At both sides of the diametric through passage are struck-off segments; of these segments 33 designates a blank portioniand 34 designates a removed portion of the segment. The chord 35 uponwhich the segment 33, 34 is struck coincides with one side wall of the through passage 32. The removed portion or space 34 is considerably larger thanthe blank space 33, which is provided with the right an gularly extending walls 36 and 37, of which the wall 36 coincides with the chord 35, and the wall 37 is adapted to registerwith the wall of the upper hollow neck 18 when the rotary valve is rotated through an angular distance of 90 in a clock-wise direction from the position viewed in Figure 6.

' .At the opposite side of the through passagev32, the segment formed is a smaller segment than on the side just referred to Such second segment comprises a blank portion 38 of greater dimensions than the previously mentioned blank portion 33 and a slotted portion 39 extending adjacent the blank portion 38. The truncated upper end portion of the segment is represented by the line 40 which is parallel to the chord 35. The chord line of the second segment is indicated by the line 41, which is diagonal withrespect to the passage 32.- There is thus left a relatively large space 42 adjoining the chord line 41 and the blank portion 38, which space 42 communicates reely with the passage 32. The truncated upper portion of the second segment forms a part of the through passage 32.

The circumferential area 43 of the blank portion 38 is slightly in excess of the port area or diameter of the air inlet opening 44 made in the side of the casing 17. This air opening is preferably closed by a cover plate menace 45 secured in place by the screws or other fas tenlngs 46, and having therein perforation-s 47 with flaring inner and outer ends 48 for the purpose of reducing the sound of the air being drawn by the engine suction through the cover plate 45.

Referring more particularly to Figues 1 and 2, a universal socket member 49 is adapted to fit freely over the. squared end 29 of the rotary valve trunnion.' The forked arms 50 of this universal socket member are provided with the pin 51 upon which the universal block 52swivels in one direction. This block is traversed also by a second pin 53, the axis of which is disposed at substantially right angles to the axis of the pin 51. The latter pin 53 is carried in the fork of a second companion universal joint member 54 provided with a socket to receive the lower end 55 of an operating shaft 56 extending upwardly and to and through the instrument board 11 Where it is provided with a square or other appropriate end 57 to receive the operating handle or member 58, a set screw 59 being employed to effect the attachment of the operating member to the shaft 56. a

The operating member is adapted to rotate over a panel or plate 60 having along its upper circumferential edge a table or scale as indicated in Figure 2, over which the index 61 of the handle is adapted to be deflected.

The plate 60 is secured to the instrument board and preferably to an under plate 62 by the use of the screws or other fastenings 63, the heads of which may be countersunk in the plate 60 to permit rotation of the handle member 58. This handle member 58 is formed with a socket 64 containing aspring 65, which is held in place, and the tension of which is adjusted, by a threaded plug 66. A ball detent 67 in the socket is pressed yieldably by the coil spring into one of an areuate series of rounded depressions 68 made in the lower side of the panelv plate 60.

In operation, the mixture from the earburetor 7 will pass up through thewire mesh 14 at high velocity, being broken up and atomized and thereafter promptly enter the regulator Where such atomized mixture wild be met by a blast of air admitted through the i of the parts one end wall of the groove 27 is in engagement with the stop pin 26, restraining further angular movement of the rotary valve except in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Figure 6. This-clock-wise movement may take place through an angle of 90.

this position be in the upper portion of the" casing with its wall 37 in alignment with the wall of the upper hollow neck 18. In this condition also the lateral air port 44 will be in full open communication with the interior hollow space of the rotary valve body and with the upper hollow neck 18, so that pure air, unaffected by any mixture with the fuel, will be furnishedto the engine.- The oondi tion of the parts referred to will be particu larly advantageous when the vehicle is descending a hill. The shutting off of the fuel conserves the valuable fuel supply, which is otherwise sucked into the motor and discharged at considerable waste; Theinlet of the pure air to the motor also serves to" check any formation of partial vacuum which would take place, unless either the air or the fuel mixture was allowed .to communicate with the motor during its descent. The formation of the vacuum of course tendsto draw oil from the crank case up past the piston rings and into the combustion chambers, thus fouling the spark plugs and inducing the formation of carbon. The air furthermore tends to cleanse andcool the cylinders, thus lessening the tendency of the motor to over-heat and an appreciable braking power is obtained, for the reason that the motive power of the automobile has entirely ceased to function, andconsequently the friction of all of the moving parts of the engine and automobile tends to bring the car to a stop.

The rotary valve may be turned to' any intermediate position between the position shown in Figure 6 and the angular position of 90 therefrom already referred to. On the initial movement in a clock-wise direction from the position occupied in Figure v6, the spaces 34 and 42 will be gradually moved into the fuel passage as the through passage 32 is shifted partially out of said fuel passage; and it will be noted that the arrangement of the section 38, 39 is such. that the slotted portion 39 will move into registry with the air opening 44 before the blank portion 38 begins to cut ofl the port area of the lower hollow neck 19. The objectionable audible sound that would ordinarily be proa duced by'the inrush of air through the port 44 is reduced or entirel eliminated by the numbers of small per orations 47 in the cover plate 45. As the blank segment portion 38 is rotated further, the port area 19 is diminished in proportion to the angular movement given the rotary valve in a clockwise direction and the amount of the fuel admitted to the engines is diminished accordingly, while the proportion of additional air from the atmosphereis correspondingly increased, so that a leaner mixture is produced.

The slotted portion 39 will admit only restricted quantity of airand this quantity or mass of air will increase or diminish as the rotary" valve is rotated in clock-wise or counter-clock-wise direction. The slotcan be made wider or narrower to accommodate the p displacement o f vario-us motors. The ideaT involved is to leti'n a restricted quantity of air initially through the slotted part 39 before the blank segment38 bcginsto cut down' the portareaof the fuel "passage; In this Way to a limitedextent the suction demands of the engine are transferred from 4 the carburetor nozzle to the external'atmosphere and a restricted dilution of the' fuelis had. When the rotary"valve' has been turned through a certain distance in aploclowise' directionv from the position 's'hown 'in Fig. 6, the upper end of the wall 40 will have reached the u-pper portion ofthe air-port 44' and the entire slot-ted portion 39 will then be in register The-entire area of the with the air port 44. air port 44 is now in readiness to'be exposed. Also the-entire area of the hollow neck 19, which is still'fully open, is in readiness to be fully closed. A further revolution of the rotary valve will simultaneously fully open the air port 44 and fully close the hollow neck 19. By the gradual registration 'of the slotted portion 39 witlr'the air port 44 during the first 45 degrees of revolution of the'rotary valve, a nice regulation, of air ,admitted is secured.

The rotation of'the valve is conveniently attended to by the driver from his seat in the vehicle by manipulation of the handle 58 in accordance with the table as pointed out by the index 61. The handle'will remain in any angularly adjusted position by reason of the engagement of the detent ball 67 in a depression' 68. In operating the device, the motor is started and after being warmed is allowed to run at a predetermined speed, the rotary valve is then gradually turned clock-wise, thus gradually bringing the slotted portion 39 into register with the air port 44 until the motor shows signs of sputtering, whereupon the rotation of the valve is reversed a small angular ,distance, thereuponthe motor will be observed to operate smoothly and with great economy of fuel.

A lock such as indicated at 70 in Figure 2 may, if desired, be associated with handle 58, thislock being arranged to be secured in locked position only when the rotary valve is in such position that the fuel supply is entirely out off that is, when the blank segment portion 38 is over the hollow neck 19. In this position the handle 58 will also be over two of the screws 63, so that the plate 60 cannot be removed.

It will be obvious that many changes in the construction, combination and arrangehit ment of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details, except as partieularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus' described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An air valve and fuel cut-off comprising a casing having fuel inlet and "outlet openings and a lateral air port, a rotary valve mounted in said casing and having a substantially diametric through passage with a segment at one side composed of a relatively small flblank portion and a relatively large open portion extending from the through passage to the periphery of thevalve, said valve body having at the other side of said passage a smaller segmental portion composed in part of a blank segment part having its chord line diagonal to the chord line of the first-mentioned segment and angular to the axis of the through passage, said lastnamed segment also having a slotted portion with its chord line extending substantially parallel with the chord line of, the first segment, said valve body having a space between said blank portion and the through passage, said blank segment part being adapted in one position of the valve to completely mask the lateral air port and in another position 'to completely mask the fuel inlet opening.

'aeeaaoe 2. An air valve and fuel cutofi comprising a casing having inlet and outletports and an air port, a solid rotary valve body mounted in said casing and having a through passage for establishing communication between saidinlet and outlet ports, said valve body having at one side of the through passage a blank wall portion adapted to mask and unmask the air port on angular adjusting which the air port is uncovered by the angular shifting of said blank wall portion toward the inlet port, said valve body also having a slotted portion communicating with K the through passage and opening through the periphery of the valve body, said slotted portion adjoining the blank wall portion at the side thereof opposite said open space and positioned to progressively register with said air port as the valve body is rotated in one direction, said valve body havlng at the opposite side of the through passage a cutaway portion connecting with the through passage and opening through the periphery of the vvalve body for setting up at all times communication between the through passage and the outlet port.

WILLIAM HENRY PRITCHETT. 

